AIRSHOW GUIDE: SHUTTLEWORTH
AIRSHOW GUIDE: SHUTTLEWORTH COLLECTION
GUIDE BY ADAM LANDAU
Few airshows offer such a relaxed and enjoyable experience as those at Old Warden. The Shuttleworth Collection typically host around seven airshows per year at their small grass airstrip, including afternoon shows on Sundays and split format afternoon and evening shows on Saturdays. They often feature the Collection’s own rare classic aircraft, as well as visiting aeroplanes and occasional military participants. The venue is also a favourite among photographers, with its favourable lighting and curved crowdline, allowing for photogenic topside passes “round the bend”.
At 2026 prices, tickets to visit the Shuttleworth Collection on any ordinary museum day cost £19.50 per adult, with free admission for children. Some events may vary (such as the ‘premium’ Flying Proms), but for the 2026 airshow season, a typical airshow costs £44, with under 18s being admitted for free.
Members Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society (SVAS) enjoy several perks, including free access to the museum on non-event days and discounted airshow tickets (typically ar discount of £7 per event). SVAS membership costs £40-50 per year for an adult.
Generally, the crowd is concentrated in Paddocks 1-2, and Datum A is used as show centre. At the very largest events, the crowd will extend into Paddocks 4-5, and show centre will be moved to Datum B to accomodate this.
There are four viewing spots that we recommend, with Site A being our favourite.
Site A: On the crowdline, next to Datum A. This is the best place to capture topside passes, and is well-sited for both display lines. This is show centre for most events.
Site B: On the crowdline, just north of Datum B. This is considered show centre for the highest-capacity events; moving show centre south to Datum B caters to large crowds which spread into Paddocks 4/5.
Site C: On the crowdline in Paddocs 4/5. This is the quietest area of the showground – during small shows, you will have very little company down here. The trade-off is that you will be very close to vehicle traffic (which runs along the fence) and will not have a good view of manoeuvres flown on the secondary display line.
Site D: At the top of paddock 1, in front of the museum hangars. While set back from the crowdline, the sloping ground gives you a relatively unobstructed view over the rest of the crowd, making for striking vistas.
Aside from a small enclosure for disabled visitors, there are no hospitality enclosures at Shuttleworth Collection airshows, meaning the entire crowdline is open for spectators to enjoy.
We strongly recommend taking the time before the show starts to enjoy the wider showground, beyond the airfield itself. The Swiss Garden and Shuttleworth House are well worth a visit. Often, a free vintage shuttle bus runs between the museum and the house; alternatively, it is a five minute stroll along the Shrubbery Walk. Shuttleworth College and Home Farm are not open to the public, but otherwise, the many acres of historic parkland are available to explore.
BY PLANE:
All of London’s commercial airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend and City) have good rail connections, airport hotels and plentiful hire car facilities. The nearest of these airports is Luton.
BY CAR:
Most visitors drive to the show, taking advantage of the free parking and generally light traffic, when compared to other airshows. This is a convenient option, but note that Hill Lane, which crosses the northern end of the main runway, is shut during the air displays.
On event days, visitors must enter the site via a new entry gate on Alder Road, off the B658. Arriving from the east, the road passes the theshold of Runway 03 and turns north towards the showground. Access is no longer permitted from Old Warden village, through the grounds of the estate.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
At some of the largest events, a shuttle service is run from Biggleswade railway station, costing £5 each way. Buses depart at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00. They return at 18:00, 19:00, 20:30 and 21:30.
Biggleswade is served by Thameslink and Great Nothern services, which run between London King’s Cross and Peterborough. The trip from London takes 45 minutes, with trains running around every half an hour. Return tickets start from about £15. See the operator’s website for more details and to book tickets at the lowest prices.
Shuttleworth airshows can be done as a daytrip, and there is generally no need for overnight accomodation at or near the airshow. However, camping is available in the grounds of the estate. For those who do require a nearby hotel, the nearest large towns are Bedford, Luton, Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City. Hotel prices are not affected by the airshow.
For the ultimate experience, the Collection has a very limited number of rooms available in Shuttleworth House. Often, these are used for event staff and display crews, but interested visitors may be able to snag a room via the Accomodation page of the Shuttleworth website, if booking many many months in advance. This places you inside the showground, with just a pleasant five minute walk through the parkland from the crowdline.
The vast majority of aircraft performing at Shuttleworth’s airshows are locally based, and visiting planes usually arrive on the morning of the show. There is no arrivals or practice day, and the eve of an airshow generally does not differ from any other non-event day at the museum. However, on any non-event days, particularly in fine weather and during the spring or summer, it is not unusual to see some of the Collection’s aircraft out of the hangar for flight tests or display practices.
